This website provides
information about tardigrades----microscopic invertebrate animals commonly
known as water bears. We have recently discovered a new species of tardigrade
for North America in Bloomington, Illinois. This new water bear was found
on the roof top of a house in central Illinois by Karen Lindahl, an IWU
Biology/Education major.

If you are interested in leaning more about water bears
or in participating in the search for other locations where this new species
might be found, use the information on these web pages to begin your exploration.
The Species Distribution Project pages will give you step by step methods
for collecting and identifying water bears from your own backyard.

**NOTE**The Species Distribution Project is on hold for Summer
2000. Please continue to collect and identify tardigrades, but wait
to send questions and samples until September 2000. We apologize
for any inconveniences this may cause.

Photomicrograph of Milnesiumsp.

Click on the above imageto access a video of a living tardigrade.Be sure that you have downloaded and installed QuickTime
3 or 4.
This will be needed to play this video clip.

Karen Lindahl
and Professor Susie
Balser of IWU offer to serve as mentors to secondary school students
who are interested in exploring the biology and distribution of water bears.